After 15 seasons and raising four up Stanley Cups, forward Chris Kunitz intends to call it a career this offseason.

After finishing his playing career and now starting his next opportunity with his current team, Kunitz reportedly plans to stay with the Chicago Blackhawks as a developmental player advisor to usher in his life’s next stage.

Kunitz issued nothing but thanks for his teammates and coaches after announcing his plans to hang up his skates, and stated, “Your leadership helped mold me into the player I knew I could be. I was given the opportunity to play with the very best teams and the very best players and I’m grateful for the laughs and the friendships that we shared together.”

Former teammates such as Ian Cole and other fans also expressed their thanks for Kunitz across Twitter Tuesday night.

Kunitz finishes out an applause-warranting career with 268 goals and 351 assists while playing in 1,022 games split up between the Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers, Anaheim Ducks, Tampa Bay Lightning, and most notably, the Pittsburgh Penguins. While serving as a linemate for the all–time great Sidney Crosby during his time in Pittsburgh, he won his last three championships as a Penguin.

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Aside from his successful years in Pittsburgh, Kunitz also captured a Stanley Cup while paying for the team that drafted him, the Ducks, in 2007.

Kunitz addressed each organization he played for, thanking them for not only the way they treated him but also his family over his career. Kunitz commented, “I’d like to sincerely thank the Anaheim Ducks, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Chicago Blackhawks. Every one of these organizations was the ultimate example, not only to me, but to my children, on what true professionalism should be.”

Jeremy Colliton said he is excited to have Kunitz aboard going forward, and Kunitz’s coach-turned-colleague stated, “I’m very pleased to have him a part of our coaching group and, also, use him as a development resource for our young players in Rockford.” Kunitz likely plans to serve Colliton’s players directly as an advisor, while also tending to the club’s AHL team, the Rockford IceHogs.

Chris Kunitz scored at 5:09 of the second overtime to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 home victory over the Ottawa Senators in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final on Thursday night.

Chris Kunitz scores in 2OT, Penguins Beat Senators In Game 7

Sidney Crosby fed Kunitz, who fired a shot past Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Craig Anderson from just outside the left circle.

“I don’t think it really matters who scores,” the left wing said. “I think we’re all just happy that the game is ended and we’re on the top side of it and that we get to go play for another Stanley Cup. I think it’s something that takes work from everybody on the ice to be able to score a goal.”

The defending NHL champion Penguins will next host the Western Conference-winning Nashville Predators in their second consecutive Stanley Cup Final series. Game 1 of the last round of the playoffs is Monday at 8 pm EST, and will air on NBC.

Kunitz also netted Pittsburgh’s first goal at 9:55 of the second before Mark Stone tied it 1-1 just 20 seconds later. Before Thursday, Kunitz hadn’t scored since Feb. 16, a span of 35 games.

For his first goal of Game 7, Kunitz fed Conor Sheary, which led to a 2-on-1 against Erik Karlsson. Sheary passed over Karlsson’s stick to Kunitz, who shot inside the left post. Sheary returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch the past two contests.

The Penguins gained a 2-1 lead with 8:16 left in regulation. After Dion Phaneuf was called for interference on Phil Kessel, Justin Schulz shot past a screen from Kunitz and off the right post. Shchulz, who had missed Pittsburgh’s previous four games with an upper-body injury, praised Kunitz after the game.

“You can’t say enough about that guy,” said Schultz. “He’s a leader in the room and on the ice. He’s a big reason we’re moving on here.”

When asked if there was anything better than scoring in Game 7, the Canadian defenseman added: “Yeah, getting the win. It was great to see. It felt really good to see Kuni’s shot go in.”

Ottawa forward Ryan Dzingel tied it 2-2 with 5:19 remaining in the third period to send the game to overtime. Karlsson fired a long-range shot that hit Matt Murray’s right post and Dzingel tapped in the rebound from the goalie’s left side after the puck also ricocheted off Murray.

Murray made 27 saves, while Anderson stopped 39 shots for the Senators.

Thursday was the 41st time, and seventh time in a conference final, a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs reached overtime.

“This was a hard-fought series and we knew it was going to be a hard-fought series going in,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “[Ottawa] is a really good team. They’re not here by accident. They’re a really good team and they’re hard to play against.

“I’m proud of our group for the resilience that they showed throughout the course of this series.”

PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 25: Chris Kunitz #14 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates after scoring a goal against Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators during the second period in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on May 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)